Ghanaians asked to guard against complacency during Election 2012
Mrs Vivian Anafo, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Talensi-Nabdam District, Upper East Region, has cautioned Ghanaians especially Political Parties not to take for granted the peace the county was enjoying during the 2012 election.
The DCE gave the caution when inaugurating the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee at Tongo on Friday.
She said even though Ghana had successfully held five Presidential and Parliamentary elections, which has attracted the admiration of the international Community, it should not be taken for granted that it would always be so.
Mrs Anafo said as Ghana prepares for another election, all measures must be put in place to ensure a peaceful election and impressed upon all stakeholders, especially the political parties, the electoral commission, traditional leaders and civil society groups to play an active role at ensuring peace.
She tasked the members of the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee to work harder to lower the partisan intolerance before, during and after the 2012 election and urged Ghanaians to join the crusade in preaching peace to the electorate.
“Let us remind ourselves of what happened in Liberia, Sierra Leon and recently Cote d’Ivoire, where many civilians lost their lives or had their limbs hacked off.”
“These are sordid occurrences, but it is worth reminding ourselves as we enter the turbulent period of political campaign.”
The DCE assured the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee that the Assembly would support them in all their activities, saying, “We should all remain steadfast in our quest for peace, reminding ourselves that victory for any party or candidate is victory for democracy and victory for mother Ghana.”
Mr Yin Donatus, District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, (NCCE) stated that the 2012 election would further test the democratic credentials of the country and the NCCE was working with many stakeholders to achieve that.
He said the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee, formed and inaugurated throughout the country would act as buffer zones at the Districts and Constituency levels to stem the tide of any political dispute that could develop into conflict.
He called on members to work assiduously to maintain peace during the election and impressed upon all the political parties to abide by the code of the Inter-Party Dialogue.
The Inter-Party Dialogue Committee in the district is made up of 33 members, drawn from political parties, traditional rulers, civil society organizations and the media. It is chaired by Police Inspector Mumuni Mohammed of the Ghana Police Service.
Source: GNA